Wednesday, August 3, 2011

NFC and Two Cents from Ken Mages


The iPhone 5,NFC,and Reality by Ken Mages
POSTED BY KENNETH G. MAGES,ON AUGUST 3RD,2011

My Opinion

I don't think Apple will have NFC in their next iPhone release. I also don’t think it will be called the iPhone 5 until it does have NFC.

Therefore,much like the iPhone 3 which had two subsequent releases (the “G”and then the “GS”) I think the next iPhone may be called the iPhone 4B for Bluetooth 4.0.

It’s never been Apple’s style to release something before it has broad market utility and frankly,what can you REALLY do with a Nexus S enabled NFC phone today?

No real provisioning for the storage of multiple cards exists yet and very few cash registers have NFC capabilities (go to ANY McDonald’s if you want to see one). Also,outside of Portland,where are NFC stickers being used for any real data gathering?

Nobody loves NFC and all of it’s capabilities more than I do,but let’s get real,until we have POS devices that accept NFC payment instruments and until we have enough NFC enabled phones and cards,and stickers,the NFC train is still revving at the station.

But that’s just my two cents…

kgm

Read more: http://nfcdata.com/blog/#ixzz1U2PFzZxg

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200+ NFC Executives Unite in Miami for First Ever North American NFC Payments Event

NFC Payments USA
NFC Insight is excited to announce that the industry's biggest names are coming together for the first time in Miami on November 2-3 to discuss the best methods to foster commercial rollout.

Over the last year there has been a huge shift in momentum for the NFC industry in payment technologies. With announcements from Google, Isis, Visa and many more key players in the space 2011 has certainly been a big year. With analysts predicting revenues over $50 billion by 2014 (Juniper Research) it's clear this is a lucrative area.

Nonetheless the NFC industry has some big hurdles to mount before they are able to offer end to end payments to a critical mass of consumers. Big questions still remain, such as how to form a successful partnership between all the fundamental players in NFC, how to ensure interoperability, the best methods to overcome lack of devices in the market and how to reach critical mass of consumers and merchants.
With these questions hanging in the air it has been hard for many NFC payment professionals to make the best decisions about how to move forward and see real ROI from day one.

The evolution of the market is promising big profits for this industry, and there has been a need for a place for key professionals in the space to discuss the best methods for commercial rollout of NFC Payments.
NFC Payments USA 2011, conference and exhibition, being held in Miami on November 2-3 has been launched to address this clear need within the industry. It is the first ever event in North America to address these key concerns and bring together the entire NFC Payment ecosystem.

Lucy Lincoln, Vice President of NFC Insight, explained, "We are very excited about this once in a lifetime event. In the last year we have seen a clear need developing in the industry for a meeting of this kind that really focuses on Payments specifically, and we are very happy to deliver this now. With such a fantastic line up of speakers and hard hitting topics it's sure to be the best environment possible to foster strong partnerships and new deals."

NFC Payments USA has attracted a high calibre of speakers including MasterCard, Isis, American Express, Nokia, TD Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Coupons Inc., Samsung, Living Social, US Bank, ING Direct and Rogers Communications.
The event is expected to attract 200+ senior level executives from across the NFC Payments Value chain including banks, MNO's, TSM's, device manufactures, tech providers, merchants and couponing and loyalty companies. There is much to look forward to as Rich Clow from Citi commented that NFC Insight's European event had "Great dialogue across the key ecosystem."
Speaking on the caliber of previous NFC Insight events, Dominique Brule from Gemalto added that NFC Payments Europe had, "Great speakers, and great audience- what a success."
Lucy Lincoln continued, "Much like NFC Payments Europe we expect a wonderful mix of people and are very excited about having all of these key players in one place for the first time; it really is set to be an historic event."
Registration for this event is now open. Visit www.nfcinsight.com/paymentsusa/index.shtml, for more details.
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Google NFC Mobile Payments to Involve Fingerprint Senors

Google's NFC system 'to involve fingerprint sensors'
sQuidcard - ‎41 minutes ago‎

The latest move by Google to ensure the security of its Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile payment system looks set to be the introduction of fingerprint sensors. NXP Semiconductors, AuthenTec and DeviceFidelity have announced that they are working ...


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Blackberry 7 NFC Enabled Smartphone Coming to Sprint this Fall


August 03, 2011 12:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

America’s First BlackBerry 7 Smartphones Coming to Sprint This Fall

BlackBerry Bold 9930 boasts thinnest design and widest QWERTY on a BlackBerry smartphone; BlackBerry Torch 9850 will be the first all-touch BlackBerry smartphone for Sprint customers
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) announced an expansion of its robust portfolio of BlackBerry® smartphones with the fall availability of America’s first two BlackBerry® 7 smartphones – BlackBerry® Bold™ 9930 and BlackBerry® Torch™ 9850 from Research In Motion (RIM). Specific pricing and availability will be provided closer to availability.
“BlackBerry 7 is an evolution that extends the ability to support our customers domestically and internationally as they juggle their busy personal and professional lives with one easy-to-use device. We are excited to continue our strong relationship with RIM through these new powerful devices.”
Both new smartphones are powered by the next-generation BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 7, a performance-driven operating system designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity. Both smartphones also feature Liquid Graphics™ technology, a key new feature powered by BlackBerry 7 to deliver incredibly fast, smooth performance and a highly responsive touchscreen experience. They are also both powered by a 1.2GHz processor, offer 5MP cameras and are World Phone capable.
“Sprint’s incredibly loyal BlackBerry customers will appreciate the benefits of the BlackBerry 7 user experience on these two new smartphones – BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9850,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “BlackBerry 7 is an evolution that extends the ability to support our customers domestically and internationally as they juggle their busy personal and professional lives with one easy-to-use device. We are excited to continue our strong relationship with RIM through these new powerful devices.”
Two options – Super Thin or Full Touchscreen
At just 10.5mm thick, the BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever. It features a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the widest QWERTY keyboard available on a BlackBerry smartphone and a trackpad for easy navigation.
Key features of BlackBerry Bold 9930 include:
  • BlackBerry® service with access to up to 10 supported business and personal email accounts, plus BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support for corporate email installations
  • DataViz Docs To Go® Premium suite preloaded, for editing Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from anywhere
  • BlackBerry App World™, the official app store for BlackBerry smartphones offering customization, fun and productivity
  • BlackBerry® Playbook™ support with BlackBerry Bridge™ (Bridge is available as a free download on BlackBerry App World)
  • Near Field Communications (NFC) support for a secure exchange of information between NFC-enabled devices over a very short distance
  • Augmented Reality using the built-in compass (magnetometer) to support augmented reality applications
The sleek BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphone will be the first full-touch BlackBerry smartphone from Sprint. It features a spectacular, new 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone, and trackpad for easy navigation.
Key features of BlackBerry Torch 9850 include:
  • BlackBerry® service with access to up to 10 supported business and personal email accounts, plus BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support for corporate email installations
  • DataViz Docs To Go® Premium suite preloaded, for editing Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from anywhere
  • BlackBerry App World, the official app store for BlackBerry smartphones offering customization, fun and productivity
  • BlackBerry® Playbook™ support with BlackBerry Bridge™ (Bridge is available as a free download on BlackBerry App World)
  • Augmented Reality using the built-in compass (magnetometer) to support augmented reality applications
Enhancing the Experience with BlackBerry 7
BlackBerry 7 introduces a next-generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience that is up to 40 percent faster than BlackBerry® 6 based smartphones and up to 100 percent faster than BlackBerry® 5 based smartphones1.
The new BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphones also feature Liquid Graphics technology, with each smartphone combining a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a blazingly fast CPU and stunning high-resolution display to deliver an incredibly fast, smooth and responsive visual experience.
Building upon the Universal Search feature introduced in BlackBerry 6, BlackBerry 7 expands the capability to include voice-activated search. This new capability makes it easier and more convenient to search for content on the smartphone or web.
BlackBerry 7 also integrates BlackBerry® Balance™, which separates personal content from corporate content, giving users the freedom and flexibility to use the smartphone for personal email, Facebook®, Twitter®, multimedia, games and other apps, while satisfying the need for corporate data to be highly secure and manageable. BlackBerry Balance works in conjunction with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3, which provides a number of unique IT policy controls, such as wiping only corporate data or blocking work-related content and apps from being copied or forwarded to personal contacts.
BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9850 use the Sprint 3G Network domestically and offer World Phone capability for international travel to nearly anywhere in the world. Sprint customers have the power to make or receive phone calls in more than 185 countries and access to BlackBerry® data services, including email, apps and web browsing in nearly 150 countries. Customers also have the option of using a third-party SIM for international voice and data services.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint andwww.twitter.com/sprint.
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AuthenTec Announces Availability of the First Commercial Fingerprint Sensor Software Development Kit (SDK) for Android Smartphones


August 03, 2011 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
Free SDK allows developers to create apps that leverage the unique personalization and security features of AuthenTec smart sensors in Android-based phones
MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH), a leading provider of security and identity management solutions, today announced the immediate availability of their new software development kit (SDK) for fingerprint sensor applications on Android mobile phones. The new SDK, which can be accessed from the AuthenTec website, allows developers to create custom applications around AuthenTec smart sensor features including convenient fingerprint authentication, mobile payment security and user personalization.
Application developers can learn more about creating smart sensor apps and download the new mobile SDK for Android at http://developers.authentec.com. Developers can begin immediate work on applications for the world’s first Android phone to use AuthenTec’s smart sensor, the Motorola ATRIX™. AuthenTec’s Developer Community has access to AuthenTec design and evaluation kits, select technical material and support tools that help members get their offerings to market quickly. Members include the leading providers of software, reference designs and end-user applications as well as network operators/service providers. They will have the opportunity to showcase their fingerprint-enabled app on AuthenTec's Web store as well as partner channels. Developers can also learn more about writing fingerprint-enabled applications for the Motorola ATRIX by visiting MOTODEV, the Motorola Developer Network.
“With the proliferation of Android smartphones, we see a tremendous opportunity for developers to apply their creativity to applications that leverage the convenience and security of AuthenTec fingerprint sensors. Developers now have a platform to create truly unique apps for the newest input device for smartphones - fingerprint sensors - and open a new world of features.,” said Art Stewart, AuthenTec Vice President of Smart Sensor Solutions. “We look forward to partnering with the developer community to offer what we expect to be a growing base of fingerprint-enabled Android smartphones an exciting portfolio of apps that leverage the personalization and security functionality of our sensors for remote access, games, personalized apps and other features that have yet to be imagined.”
Along with the availability of the SDK, AuthenTec has recently updated its popular Android Mobile application, DataDefender, to support the fingerprint readers found on the Motorola Atrix. The updated DataDefender application allows users to conveniently protect access to Android applications, text messages, email, photos, and other personal information with a single swipe of a finger over an AuthenTec smart sensor. DataDefender can be downloaded from the Android Market.
AuthenTec offers complete security and identity management solutions for the mobile market, including embedded security, smart fingerprint sensors and software. AuthenTec’s mobile market offering includes embedded and downloadable DRM content protection, mobile VPN client solutions, security hardware IP, identity management software, and smart fingerprint sensors that are used in more than 15 million mobile phones. AuthenTec provides the most advanced levels of security, reliability, and performance for mobile phone users, mobile operators, content providers, embedded security developers and many others, saving them time and money while optimizing performance.
About AuthenTec
AuthenTec is the world’s #1 provider of fingerprint sensors, identity management software, and embedded security solutions. AuthenTec solutions address enterprise, consumer and government applications for a growing base of top tier global customers. Already shipped on hundreds of millions of devices, the Company's smart sensor products, software and embedded security solutions are used virtually everywhere, from the PC on your desk to the mobile device in your hand to the server in the cloud. AuthenTec offers developers and users secure and convenient ways to manage today's rapidly evolving digital identities and security needs. For more information, visit www.authentec.com or follow us at twitter.com/authentecnews.

Contacts

AuthenTec
Brent Dietz, +1-321-308-1320
Director of Communications
brent.dietz@authentec.com
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Online Banking Safety Guide for the 47 Percent of Consumers Who Are Underprotected


August 03, 2011 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
New Guide Cites Top Industry Research, Identifies Three Virtual Banking "Personality Types," and Offers Tips for Safer Online Transacting
A recent poll revealed that 54% of U.S. consumers said the theft of their personal or financial information worried them more than losing their job or not having healthcare for their family members.[1]
Their worry is not unfounded. As President Obama recently acknowledged, while the Internet has transformed how we communicate and do business, “it has also led to new challenges, like online fraud and identity theft, that harm consumers and cost billions of dollars each year.”
Today, there are more ways than ever that financial information can be compromised, from offline methods such as dumpster diving and stolen laptops to email scams, fake banking sites known as phishing scams, and data breaches like the one Sony recently experienced with PlayStation.
Despite the dangers, consumers continue to embrace the anytime, anywhere convenience of online banking. In fact, only 4% of U.S. households used online banking in 2004, but by 2010 the number ballooned to 80%.[2]
Watch an animated tutorial on phishing from McAfee
Even though the majority of Americans are doing their banking online, only certain groups have taken precautions, and many remain vulnerable. As Dave Marcus, Director of Security Research for McAfee Labs points out, the education level and personality of a computer user has a lot to do with their safety level.
“Most instances of banking fraud are not due to the bank’s technology being compromised, but to people unwittingly giving out their personal banking information to criminals via phishing scams and copycat sites, or their computers being infected with malware,” Marcus said.
With that in mind, McAfee is redoubling its efforts to offer users of all stripes the very best practical information on online banking safety, whether they are banking from their computer or mobile phone.
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acting on recent data that reveals many consumers still aren’t protected by even basic antivirus software when banking online, McAfee today released an educational guide for banking safely on computers, tablets or mobile devices. According to Javelin Strategy & Research, in 2010 47 percent of household financial managers did not have antivirus software installed.
“Most instances of banking fraud are not due to the bank’s technology being compromised”
Combining McAfee intelligence with the latest U.S. banking data from many top sources revealed that most consumers fall into one of three categories of online banking behavior, and that age tends to play a strong role in safety and security habits online. Most people’s level of confidence with banking online is associated with their overall comfort level online, including participating in such activities as shopping, searching, and social networking.
McAfee identified three main personality types associated with online and mobile banking, and offers customized tips for each group in its safe online banking guide:
1. ‘Competent, But A Little Careless’ Ages 18-24: This group is the most comfortable with technology but they tend to be overconfident, neglecting to put even basic security practices into place. As a result, this group leaves themselves vulnerable to banking malware. Sixty-eight percent do not even have basic antivirus software installed on their computers, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.
Tips for ‘Competent, But A Little Careless’ bankers:
  • Start with a clean PC. This means making sure that your device is clean of threats by using a free diagnostic tool such as McAfee® Security Scan Plus, which scans and detects malware, Trojans, and potentially unwanted programs in running processes.
  • Buy comprehensive security software that protects you from viruses, spyware, adware, and identity theft. Always choose a reputable brand such as McAfee Total Protection™ software. When it comes to security software, free is not better. A September 2010 USA TODAY survey of 16 anti-virus companies shows that no-cost anti-virus programs generally lack important features such as a firewall, website health checks, and automatic updates.
  • Avoid distracted banking: Be careful not to respond to fake bank emails (or phishing attacks) because you are multitasking. Remember, banking fraud often happens because consumers give out their own user names and passwords to fake banking sites.
2. ‘Confident But Casual’ Ages 25-45: This group uses the Internet for both work and personal reasons and are the most frequent online banking users. According to Javelin, they tend to be more likely to have antivirus software installed, with 42 percent of 25-34 year-olds and 47 percent of 35-44 year-olds using it. However, according to an August 2010 NCSA/APWG Survey, this group tends to be casual or over-confident about security, with 52 percent of 25-44 year-olds feeling as if they are already doing enough to stay safe online.
Tips for ‘Confident But Casual’ bankers:
  • If you don't have online security protection already, you need a comprehensive security suite that protects you and your family’s banking integrity. Also, remember to run a security scan before signing up for any online banking services to ensure you're starting with a computer free of malware.
  • Never respond to unsolicited email from a bank that requests personal information, such as your user name, password, or address. Even if the email looks legitimate, NEVER reply, click on links or open attachments included in the email.
  • Review your financial statements and transactions as soon as they arrive, so if there are any anomalies or unauthorized transactions you can clear them up right away.
3. ‘Conservative And Cautious’ Over 45 Years Old: This group is not as familiar with technology as younger generations, and a smaller percentage use online banking. Javelin found that they tend to be more cautious when going online, and as a result, they are better protected than the younger group, with approximately 55 percent having security software installed. This group should continue to be cautious about offline banking scams in general; research shows that some older Americans are vulnerable to automated voice messages that request financial account numbers.
Tips for ‘Conservative And Cautious’ bankers:
  • Be sure to run a security scan on your PC before you sign up for any online banking services to ensure you're starting with a computer free of malware.
  • Beware of copycat sites that look very similar to major banking institutions, and always be sure that you've typed in the correct web address when visiting your bank online. Be familiar with your bank's logo and site design.
  • Create strong passphrases. Don't be afraid to go beyond the standard eight characters and a couple of numbers - the longer, the better, and change your passphrases often.
Mobile Banking
According to Forrester Research in its January 2011 U.S. Mobile Banking Forecast, mobile banking has experienced rapid growth in the U.S. over the past three years, more than doubling from five percent of online adults in 2007 to 12 percent by the second quarter of 2010. Furthermore, Forrester predicts that one in five–or 50 million–U.S. adults will be using mobile banking by 2015. It is important to remember that while banking via mobile devices is very convenient, it is still important to exercise caution.

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Card Activation’s Follow-Up on the Raising of Capital to Pursue the Appeal Process and Link to Shareholders Conference Call


Backgrounder:  Card Activation Technologies, Inc. claims it holds rights in U.S. Patent 6 032 859, entitled “Method for Processing Debit Purchase Transactions using a Counter-Top Terminal System" They sued dozens of major retailers with claims they were violating their patent. However, that very same patent was invalidated last week.   Running out of cash, they are looking to their shareholders for any ideas to keep the company afloat.
Card Activation's '859 Patent Ruled Invalid
Gift Card Patent Troll Surrenders, Retailers Off The Hook
More Relief For Retailers: Giftcard Patent Case Unlikely To Be Appealed As Plaintiff Is Running Out Of Money

August 03, 2011 07:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Card Activation Technologies Inc.(Pink Sheets: CDVT)—As discussed in the shareholder conference call today the company explained that it was open to ideas from the shareholders on the best way to raise the capital with the least amount of dilution for the appeal and patent reexamination. While we formulate a possible process we would appreciate the shareholders input which we will discuss with our security attorneys. Please e-mail the company with your contact information and the company will contact you to discuss your ideas. Please direct your contact info to Michael Malet’s e-mail: mnmalet@medcomusa.com.
Below is the link to the recording of the Card Activation conference call August 2, 2011 which is also available on the company website www.cardactivationtech.com.
About Card Activation Technologies Inc.
Card Activation Technologies, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that owns the patent rights to a proprietary payment transaction method used for processing gift cards and other debit purchase transactions. The company is actively seeking to license its patent to the thousands of current users and believes that many retailers, gas stations, phone companies and others that utilize those stored value cards, such as gift and debit cards, infringe its patent. As a result, the company is aggressively pursuing litigation against these infringers.
For further information about Card Activation Technologies go to www.cardactivationtech.com
Contacts
Card Activation Technologies Inc.
Robert H. Kite, 312-972-1662
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MoneyGram International Case Study Sponsored by IBM


Client Case Study: MoneyGram International
sponsored by IBM
Posted: 02 Aug 2011
Published: 02 Aug 2011
Format: PDF
Length: 6  Page(s)
Type: White Paper
Language: English

ABSTRACT:
MoneyGram International, a leading global payment services company, has a robust fraud and anti-money laundering (AML) program. However, the company’s IT staff found that the existing infrastructure wasn't flexible enough to keep up with rapidly changing compliance regulations and constantly evolving fraud tactics.
This case study outlines the solution MoneyGram choose to help integrate their information in real-time and provide actionable insight so company managers can quickly identify questionable patterns and proactively enact new processing rules to reduce fraud.


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Debit Cards as Profit Drivers - 4th Edition - New Data on the Debit Card Markets


August 03, 2011 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Debit Cards as Profit Drivers - 4th Edition" report to their offering.
The 4th edition of this best-selling report provides new data on the debit card markets in developed regions, including America, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany, as well as emerging markets including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.Debit cards have became popular among issuers primarily as a result of investments that card networks have made in popularizing debit cards among consumers, and as a result of the revenue that banks could realize from debit interchange fees.
Read This Report To:
  • Increase profits from your debit card offering
  • Access the latest statistics on debit card markets in the most developed countries
  • Follow the latest on fraud and the cost to banks so far
  • Gain an overview of the latest developments in the debit card market
  • Understand the effects of the Durbin Amendment on US banks' debit card profitability
  • Understand how interest and inflation rates are associated with the reshaping of debit card systems worldwide
Among the most relevant examples from different areas of the globe, Germany, as a cash-based society, stands out of the crowd with an almost total absence of credit cards if compared to the number of debit cards in issue - 4 million credit cards as opposed to 101 million debit cards in circulation. Russia boasts an even more striking gap, with 119 million debit cards as opposed to 10 million credit cards in issue.
Keeping an Eye on the Future
This report has been written with the purpose of giving a complete overview of the debit sources of profit for financial institutions, but it has also identified some key features that are likely to create a sound foundation for future debit card markets.
Key Topics Covered:
Chapter 1: How debit card markets have developed
Chapter 2: The profit-making function of debit cards
Chapter 3: Regulatory authorities' decisions and banks' profitability
Chapter 4: Other authorities' interventions over interchange fees
Chapter 5: The impact of fraudulent transactions on banks' profitability
Chapter 6: The vicious circle of interest rates and inflation affects debit card usage to a varying extent
Chapter 7: Between emerging and developed economies in the Asia-Pacific region
Chapter 8: Conclusions

Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
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